Oregon won its first game at USC since 2010 in dramatic fashion.
The Ducks overcame a 16-point deficit and took their first lead of the game with 65 seconds left to top USC 59-53. Oregon improves to 12-5, 2-3 Pac-12.
Sabrina Ionescu poured in the go-ahead bucket, Ruthy Hebard recorded a layup with 30 seconds left and Ionescu made two free-throws to give Oregon its second consecutive win after starting conference play 0-3.

“The good defense kind of inspired us a little bit offensively,” head coach Kelly Graves said in a radio interview with Terry Jonz after the game. “I told them after the game that I’m as proud of them today as I have been of any team.

“That was tremendous. We had every opportunity to just fold up the tent and go home. We didn’t.”
The Ducks outscored the hosts 39-17 after halftime and overcame 21 total turnovers. Oregon shot 60.9 percent after intermission and held the Women of Troy to 23.3 percent shooting.

“We showed a lot of guts, character and toughness of which we had none in the first half,” Graves said.
Hebard scored all 14 of her points in the second half. She played just 12 minutes after getting in early foul trouble. Ionescu finished with 17 points and seven rebounds.

Lexi Bando had 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting.

“I thought Bando really did a great job of leading and competing tonight,” Graves said. “That’s what you need out of your veteran. Really happy for her.”

Oregon trailed 36-20 at halftime but posted a 15-2 run out of intermission to tighten the game. Oregon committed 14 first-half turnovers and allowed USC to win the rebounding battle, 20-13.

“We came out playing horrible,” Bando told Jonz. “But we had a gut-check in the second half. I’m so proud of the energy we brought and the heart we played with.”

Hebard scored the first seven Oregon points to start the second half. USC led 43-38 after three quarters.

The Ducks closed to within one point at 45-44 on a layup from Oti Gildon. USC scored to make it 53-50 with 1:55 remaining but would not score again. Hebard completed a three-point layup to tie the game at 53-53 with 1:43 left.
USC was without its top scorer, Kristen Simon. She did not play for “personal reasons” against the Ducks.
USC’s Sadie Edwards scored a game-high 23 points in 37 minutes of play. The Trojans have now lost four in a row after they beat Colorado to open conference play.

“We just have to come out and do it right from the get-go, man,” Graves said. “We cannot keep giving those game halftime speeches. That’s why I’m a little bit hoarse tonight. … That was fun to see. We grew up tonight.”
Up next, the Ducks play at No. 17 UCLA on Sunday. The Bruins defeated Oregon State 66-56 to hand the Beavers their first loss of Pac-12 play.
Follow Jonathan Hawthorne on Twitter @Jon_Hawthorne